Summary of What Would Reagan Do? by Chris Christie: Life Lessons from the Last Great President

By Willie M. Joseph

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This book does not in any capacity mean to replace the original book but to serve as a vast summary of the original book.

Summary of What Would Reagan Do? by Chris Christie: Life Lessons from the Last Great President

IN THIS SUMMARIZED BOOK, YOU WILL GET:

• Chapter provides an astute outline of the main contents.
• Fast & simple understanding of the content analysis.
• Exceptionally summarized content that you may skip in the original book

 

Chris Christie's book, What Would Reagan Do?, offers insights into the character-driven political instincts and impactful relationships of Ronald Reagan, highlighting the nation's current dysfunction. The book highlights Reagan's ability to find common ground across party lines and transform the Republican Party and political landscape. Christie argues that Reagan's life lessons are still relevant today, as he transformed the Republican Party and the political landscape. The book highlights the importance of understanding and applying Reagan's lessons to address the nation's challenges.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Willie M. Joseph
• Release date: Feb 18, 2024
• ISBN: 9798224980420

Willie M. Joseph

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JACK AND NELLE’S BOY

Ronald Reagan, born on February 6, 1911, was raised by his parents, Jack and Nelle Reagan, and his mother, who was a seamstress. The Reagan family had a tumultuous upbringing, with their father being a gregarious man and alcoholic, and their mother being a seamstress. The Reagans started in a small apartment in Tampico, Illinois, near the H. C. Pitney Variety Store. They moved to a ramshackle two-story rental in 1914, then moved to Chicago, Galesburg, and Monmouth.

When Pitney's reopened in 1919, the family returned to Tampico, living in an apartment above the store. After Pitney's closed again in 1919, the family moved to Dixon and a cedar-shingled, gable-roofed Queen Anne on South Hennepin Avenue.

Ronald Reagan was constantly uprooted during his childhood, attending four different schools and struggling with nearsightedness and a dislike for glasses. He also had to bear the burden of his first love, Jack's wife, and was constantly uprooted in school. Despite his challenges, Reagan learned valuable lessons from his upbringing, such as the importance of hard work, faith, and empathy. His tumultuous upbringing left him with valuable lessons about the importance of hard work, faith, and empathy.

John Edward Jack Reagan, a natural salesman with a grade-school education, struggled to keep jobs despite his job titles including clerk, store manager, and traveling salesman. His drinking habits led to frustration, embarrassment, and helplessness for his family. The Reagans, who had lost their land to crushing debt and had to rely on their sons and wife for income, tried to ignore Jack's drinking and accept it as God's will.

One night, Dutch, a child, tripped over Jack's overcoat and passed out in the snow. His mother, Nelle Wilson Reagan, took care of business without feeling discouraged or wasting money. She mended Moon's dress slacks, served oatmeal with gravy, and took on additional sewing jobs to support her family.

Nelle's strength came from her ability to make her family's lives better and keep her boys moving forward. She took on extra sewing jobs to make ends meet, and her strength seemed to come from above. The Reagans' struggles were not solely due to Jack's drinking, but also due to the hardships faced by the family during that time. By learning from their mistakes and embracing their inner strength, the Reagans were able to keep their family out of poverty and support their children.

Nelle Reagan, a dedicated worshipper at the First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), passed on her practical faith to her son, Ronald Reagan. Her optimism and belief in a mixture of hard work and God-given goodness helped shape the man he would become. Unlike Jack, who was chronically failing to detox and provide for his family, Dutch never embraced the churchly devotion that his mother displayed. Instead, he chose to be baptized at his mother's First Christian Church at age ten.

Nelle never blamed Jack for his alcoholism, instead helping her boys find reasons to admire him, including his strong aversion to racial and religious bigotry. They spent their childhoods playing outside with white and Black children, urging them to treat all people the same. The sibling rivalry ignited the passion that would become his adult career.

Nelle began organizing amateur performances at her church, with older son Neil performing and receiving applause. This spark of sibling rivalry led to Ronald Reagan making his theatrical debut, which was met with laughter and applause. This experience opened doors for him to learn more about originality and how to think, rather than what to think. B.J. Fraser, the new sophomore English teacher at Dixon North High, also led the students in Broadway-style productions like Philip Barry's You and I, where the future president had his first stage performance outside church.

By the time Ronald Reagan was a senior, he was addicted to student theatrical productions, and his life changed significantly. His family's experiences and the influence of his mother and brother played a significant role in shaping his life and career.

Ronald Reagan's life was shaped by three individuals: his father, Jack Reagan, and his mother, Nelle Reagan. Dutch's father's struggles with alcoholism and employment challenges shaped his sense of social responsibility, which he would carry with him even as his politics grew more conservative. His mother, Nelle, taught him the power of hard work and persistence, especially when coupled with faith. She was a strong mother, a role model, and a beacon of moral clarity in a dysfunctional family.

Ronald Reagan's English teacher and drama club director set him on a path he would follow for the rest of his life. B.J. Fraser played an indispensable role in shaping his journey, which included a three-decade career in Hollywood, two terms as the governor of California, and a vaunted place in history as one of America's most consequential and effective presidents. His ability to present himself, connect with ordinary people, stand in front of a crowd, and communicate was a key factor in his success.

These experiences helped make Ronald Reagan the leader he would become, big-hearted, inspirational, and principled. His childhood was filled with challenges and confusion, but it taught him that they were real but surmountable with hard work, clear vision, and the help of others. His resilience and empathy developed from his experiences, making his life a testament to the power of hard work and the importance of empathy.

INSPIRED FOR LIFE

Ronald Reagan, a former college student, cast his first vote for president on November 8, 1932, nine months and